January 14, 2026
Melissa Sherer ’18
It is an honor to serve as your Alumni Board President and to connect with you on our shared love of Graceland. From the student leadership opportunities, lifelong friendships, to the excellent academic experience, my time at Graceland is truly the most cherished of my life. It has been an honor to give back to Graceland as a member of the Alumni Board over the last three years, and I am excited to expand my impact in my new role as the Alumni Board President.
My friends from Graceland continue to be some of the most important people in my life. The key components of those friendships are our shared values of community, learning, and wholeness offered at Graceland, which transcend my years on campus. Each generation of Graceland students insists that their era was the best; that’s part of what makes our time on “the Hill” so special. It has been a pleasure to connect with alumni across generations and to experience how easily those bonds form to create genuine friendships. As you spread across the world, remember that it is this special shared experience, across different generations and time frames, that unites us all together.
The current pressures on higher education make our role as alumni more critical than ever. Now is the moment to give our time, money, and talents to Graceland to support a strong foundation for students to come.
The Alumni Board is always looking for people who are eager to make a difference. If you are passionate about recruiting students, helping graduates succeed, engaging with alumni, or championing Graceland, we would love to have you get involved with us.
Please reach out to us at alumni@graceland.edu to connect. May Graceland’s unique and transformative influence continue to be with you today and everyday onward.
Melissa Sherer ’18
President, Graceland Alumni Board of Directors
Alumni Board applications typically open in the fall, but we welcome your participation any time with our committees, which all alumni are eligible to join. I encourage you to learn more and apply here: graceland.edu/AlumniBoard
University News - Fall 2025 / Winter 2026
January 14, 2026
An opportunity began with Graceland graduate and Alumni Board member Peter Wilkinson ’93, whose professional journey in the tech world positioned him uniquely to connect his alma mater to this high-energy event.
University News - Fall 2025 / Winter 2026
January 14, 2026
Each July, Graceland’s Lamoni campus bursts to life with color, laughter, and community as hundreds of high school students arrive for Spectacular — the largest annual gathering of Community of Christ youth in the world.
University News - Fall 2025 / Winter 2026
January 13, 2026
Graceland is proud to welcome two new members to its Board of Trustees: Tom Hiles, MEd, ’82 and Noel Sherer, MS, ’91.
University News - Fall 2025 / Winter 2026
January 12, 2026
After 42 years of quiet consistency and trusted leadership, Janice Tiffany ’83, Executive Director of Business Services, will retire from Graceland this winter — leaving behind a legacy of excellence that stretches across nearly every corner of the University’s finances.
